Thoracentesis cost in Louisiana
In Louisiana, 48 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $199.52 to $2,180.50, with a median of $646.80. The lowest price is at West Jefferson Medical Center (Marrero). The highest price is 10.9× the lowest.
- The median here, $646.80, is 47% below the US median of $1,224.53.
- That is about the same as Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($640.89).
- Louisiana ranks 2nd of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 2 of 48 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 32555. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 10, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$199.52West Jefferson Medical Center
Median$646.80half of hospitals charge less
Highest$2,180.50in Louisiana
Lowest saves$447.28vs the median
Hospitals in Louisiana, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Jefferson Medical Center lowest Marrero · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $199.52 | $1,247.00 | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Lake Charles · Lake Charles, LA THORACENTSIS INCISI | $206.64 | $344.40 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Bernard Parish Hospital Chalmette · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $249.92 | $781.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $263.90 | $1,885.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $326.72 | $2,042.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Hardtner Medical Center Olla · Olla, LA 32555-Thoracentesis w/ Imaging Guidance | $400.00 | $500.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Acadian Medical Center Eunice · Lafayette, LA ASPIRATE PLRA W/IMAG | $421.05 | $1,403.50 | Jun 9, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Monroe · Monroe, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $446.43 | $1,941.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lafayette General Medical Center Lafayette · Lafayette, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $446.46 | $2,126.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Leonard J Chabert Medical Center Houma · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $449.79 | $957.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Acadia General Hospital Crowley · Lafayette, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $488.98 | $2,126.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner Kenner · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $490.84 | $1,753.00 | Sep 16, 2026 source file |
| Springhill Medical Center Springhill · Minden, LA NS2 THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION W GUIDANCE | $495.04 | $1,455.99 | Mar 22, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings · Lake Charles, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $496.06 | $1,459.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Minden Medical Center Minden · Minden, LA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $535.35 | $1,784.50 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner St Mary Morgan City · Baton Rouge, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $545.80 | $2,729.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Byrd Regional Hospital Leesville · Leesville, LA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $546.45 | $1,821.50 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| St Charles Parish Hospital Luling · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $554.04 | $2,052.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Glenwood Regional Medical Center - HSA one side West Monroe · Monroe, LA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING RT | $570.66 | $3,795.43 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Clinic Foundation New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $600.38 | $2,729.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches · Natchitoches, LA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/IMAGING | $614.80 | $1,537.00 | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $638.82 | $2,366.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $646.80 | $4,620.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeside Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $646.80 | $4,620.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Covington · Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $646.80 | $4,620.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Tulane Medical Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $646.80 | $4,620.00 | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
| St. Frances Cabrini Hospital Alexandria · Alexandria, LA HC 32555 THORACENTESIS NDL/CATH,ASP PLRL SP; W/IMG GUIDE | $686.92 | $2,642.00 | Jan 13, 2026 source file |
| University Med Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Removal of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Imaging Guidance | $713.90 | $3,245.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner St. Martin Hospital Breaux Bridge · Lafayette, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $739.80 | $2,466.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bayou Bend Health System Franklin · Morgan City, LA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $744.80 | $1,064.00 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center Independence · Hammond, LA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $813.94 | $1,356.57 | Feb 24, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $819.52 | $3,152.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Medical Center - Baton Rouge Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $829.76 | $2,593.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner St Anne General Hospital Raceland · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $863.72 | $1,963.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - St. Mary Medical Center Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $882.56 | $3,152.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics Lafayette · Lafayette, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $925.86 | $3,561.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Terrebonne General Medical Center - Parish Houma · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $974.42 | $1,316.25 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital Kaplan · Lafayette, LA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $1,109.70 | $2,466.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Franklin Medical Center Winnsboro · Winnsboro, LA THORACENTESIS FOR ASP | $1,164.60 | $1,941.00 | May 21, 2026 source file |
| Northern Louisiana Medical Center Ruston · Ruston, LA ASPIRATE PLRA W/IMAG | $1,341.72 | $2,439.50 | Jun 19, 2026 source file |
| North Oaks Medical Center Drive. Hammond · Hammond, LA HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging Guidance | $1,403.33 | $5,823.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Physicians Medical Center F Houma · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA **Thoracentesis, puncture of pleural cavity for aspiration, initial or subsequent | $1,493.85 | $2,155.00 | Sep 24, 2026 source file |
| Louisiana Extended Care of Natchitoches Natchitoches · Natchitoches, LA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,614.00 | $1,614.00 | Oct 25, 2026 source file |
| Lady of the Sea General Hospital Cut Off · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA ED-THORACENTESIS W/TUBE INSERTION | $1,673.75 | $1,673.75 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| West Feliciana Parish Hospital St Francisville · Baton Rouge, LA FAC/ THORACENTESIS W INSERTION OF TUBE | $1,754.48 | $2,924.13 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Baton Rouge General Medical Center Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge, LA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $2,000.85 | $2,858.35 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Willis Knighton Medical Center Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Thoracentesis W/Image Guide | $2,083.20 | $2,604.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Opelousas General Main Campus Opelousas · Opelousas, LA Thoracentesis CL | $2,180.50 | $4,361.00 | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Check the item The description in the hospital file looks like a supply or device (a catheter, a brace, an implant), not this procedure. The hospital may have filed it under the wrong code: ask before relying on this price.
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 12 | $199.52 | $577.21 |
| Lafayette, LA | 6 | $421.05 | $614.39 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 5 | $449.79 | $974.42 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 4 | $545.80 | $1,292.12 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 3 | $819.52 | $882.56 |
| Hammond, LA | 2 | $813.94 | $1,108.64 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 2 | $206.64 | $351.35 |
| Minden, LA | 2 | $495.04 | $515.20 |
| Monroe, LA | 2 | $446.43 | $508.54 |
| Natchitoches, LA | 2 | $614.80 | $1,114.40 |
| Alexandria, LA | 1 | $686.92 | $686.92 |
| Leesville, LA | 1 | $546.45 | $546.45 |
| Morgan City, LA | 1 | $744.80 | $744.80 |
| Olla, LA | 1 | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Opelousas, LA | 1 | $2,180.50 | $2,180.50 |
| Ruston, LA | 1 | $1,341.72 | $1,341.72 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 1 | $646.80 | $646.80 |
| Winnsboro, LA | 1 | $1,164.60 | $1,164.60 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What thoracentesis is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Thoracentesis explained.
Thoracentesis with imaging guidance in other states
- Alabama$1,055.53
- Alaska$2,211.30
- Arizona$1,106.95
- Arkansas$925.00
- California$2,033.20
- Colorado$1,250.95
- Connecticut$1,253.00
- Delaware$1,784.75
- District of Columbia$1,228.69, 3 hospitals
- Florida$1,874.28
- Georgia$1,410.41
- Hawaii$1,434.00
- Idaho$1,155.70
- Illinois$1,250.00
- Indiana$1,095.50
- Iowa$983.20
- Kansas$969.83
- Kentucky$978.22
- Maine$686.40
- Maryland$1,249.16
- Massachusetts$1,787.00
- Michigan$1,092.18
- Minnesota$926.91
- Mississippi$843.94
- Missouri$1,022.79
- Montana$927.54
- Nebraska$939.00
- Nevada$1,259.58
- New Hampshire$1,063.30
- New Jersey$1,782.00
- New Mexico$1,229.41
- New York$1,282.00
- North Carolina$1,029.60
- North Dakota$792.75
- Ohio$1,737.60
- Oklahoma$684.00
- Oregon$1,534.65
- Pennsylvania$1,474.38
- Puerto Rico$600.00, 4 hospitals
- Rhode Island$1,714.65
- South Carolina$1,404.00
- South Dakota$1,842.00
- Tennessee$633.65
- Texas$1,410.82
- Utah$1,018.79
- Vermont$1,258.00
- Virginia$1,321.80
- Washington$1,321.84
- West Virginia$1,250.40
- Wisconsin$1,200.00
- Wyoming$1,088.89
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.